Hope

byUpper Room AdministratoronDecember 7, 2017

Today’s Reflection

WE FOCUS ON HOPE as we light the first candle of the Advent wreath. We pray that the radiance from the candle will enlighten the eyes of our hearts so that we will know the hope to which we have been called. (See Ephesians 1:18.) We pray that even in times of deepest darkness, we will have eyes to see how to turn swords into plowshares. Hope is our belief that God can bring beauty amidst brokenness—like a kaleidoscope whose stunning patterns become visible when light shines through the broken pieces of glass contained within.

During Advent, we slow down and let the candle of hope light our way forward. We step faithfully into each new moment because we believe in the promise that the Light of the world is coming and the darkness will not overcome it. Emmanuel dwells among us to share both in our moments of light and our moments of darkness.

We are never alone. There is nowhere we can go and nothing we can do that will ever separate us from God. No matter how dark, lonely, or distant we may feel, we seek to open the eyes of our hearts and claim the hope to which we are called. Hope is the radiant light of God beaming both upon us and within us.

Related

I experience hope everyday. As I go through everyday I believe in what the reading today says…”Hope is our belief that God can bring beauty amidst brokenness.” I truly believe this because I see it happen with my kids at school. The brokenness that surrounds some of my kids is unbelieveable. I teach in a public school and we are not suppose to talk about our faith or God. However, I believe that God is so powerful and mighty that without being spoken of He is there. Like today’s reading says…”Hope is the radiant light of God beaming both upon us and within us.” God always finds a way. Today’s reading brings to mind a poem …

“Hope” is the thing with feathers
by Emily Dickinson

“Hope” is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –

And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little bird
That kept so many warm –

I’ve heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.

I pray for all here at UR that you will be able to slow down during lent and let the candle of hope light your way forward. I pray for all that struggle mentally, physically, and spiritually. I pray that God will help me to be the best version of myself that I can be today. I pray for peace…our world needs peace.

I echo your prayer today, Louise. Hope is what enables me to continue teaching. And sometimes I do close my eyes in prayer right when I’m teaching. And when a little face lights up with understanding I know “hope does not disappoint!”

I echo Louise’s post. Being a retired public school teacher, there were so many ways to minister to the children in my classrooms over the years. In children’s eyes, I saw hope in the most dire of situations. These young people mostly wanted to feel love and validation; things that many didn’t get anywhere else. Teachers can be that hope to many of their students, no matter the age. Hope is like a mustard seed. Thank you for sharing the poem.

I have hope everyday because we are never alone – I do believe that even when I feel very lonely. But as the writer says above nothing can separate us from the love of God. Going through a divorce is a lonely alienating process that hs made me feel alone and unworthy, unwanted and so much more. The only hope that I have clung to is that God loves me and that is all that truly matters.
Thank you for the prayers you have offered – my son’s interview went very well- he was very happy with it and he will find out within the next two weeks if he gets the position. My middle will be biome in less than a week-which makes us all so happy- the youngest will be so happy to have her sister home. My children obviously bring me so much hope and joy -they are truly gifts from God.
I live near Chicago. It is so cold today- prayers for all without adequate shelter.
Peace and Hope to all of you today.

Louise, thank you so much for the Emily Dickinson poem. I needed that extra comfort. Tomorrow we see another urologist to see if my husband needs his kidney removed. He has been waffleling about this since August. Please pray that this doctor can be the one who helps Ron understand it is needed. I think he is now beginning to hurt so much he will do it. Thank you, for being here. Love and Light!

Thank you Louise for the beautiful poem.
Praise and thanksgiving for Lou’s good news.
Prayers for Cherie’s husband and wisdom and acceptance
Thank you Lou for sharing your location
I have hope everyday or I literally would be unable to continue
My fingers have developed sores and they will last until next spring
My husband berated me over several hours last night
For those who are new, he and I live togather but have no interaction or communication…usually. Every so often he decides to find issue with my very existence and lets me know everything he hates about me
I rarely relate any of this because everyone has problems and I prefer to not focus on myself so…
Blessings and prayers for each and everyone of you

I have a newspaper clipping/”cartoon” taped to my calendar in the kitchen that reads “The World Needs Hope”. On my darkest days, I cling to Hope and Faith and it has been with me over and over.
“I love you oh Lord, my strength. You are my rock and my fortress and my deliverer”

My husband ended up in the ER for five hours after his procedure yesterday. Besides extreme pain, he was so weak and ashen. I was afraid I was going to lose him. It helped me to know UR friends prayed for him. We are home now. We live close to Minneapolis, where the sun is shining on a snowy landscape.

Prayers for hope for all dear UR friends. For your husband, Cherie, and his doctors. May Ron accept the doctors’ recommendations and may it renew his health. Lou and Julie, you are loved and cherished by God, your children, your UR friends. For Marcy, Connie and her husband, Jill and her parents, for teachers. For all who are lonely this Advent season.

May hope dwell in and shine forth in our hearts. Prayers for those who are hopeless, may they will rest in God’s strong arms with trust. “I have called you by name and you are MINE.” (Isaiah 43.)

Thanks so much Andrea! You are such an encouragement to me. Everyday, after work, i will visit the upperroom reflection site. By then, i am tired after a long day at work.

God’s word and all your comments somehow inspire me. Even those who have prayer requests and especially i read those who pray for me. When i read your prayer requests, i am reminded how small my problems are.

Thank you everyone! You are a blessing to me every day. Even on days when i do not comment, i am so blessed just reading your comments!

My hope in God is a state of being. Not always, my hope was in many things. But to my delight, one day something happened that my hope would jump into. BUT my hope didn’t move…it remained in God only. My hope is now totally in God himself.